City Council Candidate Debaate Set For April 11Debate to air on 5 CITY-TV

The public is invited to a debate among City Council candidates from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, April 11 at Saint Paul United Methodist Church, 1144 “M” Street. Debate participants will be the six City Council candidates who advanced to the May 3 general election from the April 5 primary: Ken Svoboda, Terry Werner, Robin Eschliman, Dan Marvin, Mark Koller and Shawn Traudt. Three City Council seats are open. The government access cable channel, 5 CITY-TV, will tape the debate for airing until May 3.

Candidates for the Lincoln Public Schools Board and the Lincoln Airport Authority will not debate, but have been invited to meet voters beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the same site.

Sponsors of the debate are the League of Women Voters of Lincoln-Lancaster County; Saint Paul United Methodist Church; the Lincoln-Lancaster Women’s Commission; Aging Services/Lincoln Area Agency on Aging; the North 27th Business and Civic Association; and the NAACP.

Each candidate will make a one minute opening statement. They will have two minutes each to answer a minimum of four questions, with 30 seconds to rebut the answers of others. The debate will end with two-minute closing statements. Questions have been solicited from within the sponsoring organizations and from the public. The sponsors will make the final decision on questions used.

The moderator will be Peggy Briggs, a host for Aging Services’ “Live and Learn” program on 5 CITY-TV. Jan Gauger from the North 27th Business and Civic Association will be the timer.

The debate will take place in the west portion of the church’s Family Life Center on the main floor. Free parking is available in the church garage (enter on 11th Street) and on the street. Parking also is available for $1 per car in the lot across 11th Street from the church (enter on “N” Street). If entering the church through the west doors, take the elevator up to the main floor (“M” button). The Family Life Center is across the hall and to the left. If entering the church through the south door, take the stairs up to the main floor and walk away from the sanctuary. The Family Life Center is on the right.

Audience members are asked to not wear or otherwise display items indicating support of specific candidates while in the debate area. Candidates will have campaign materials available for display and distribution in the east side of the Family Life Center.

The League of Women Voters of Lincoln-Lancaster County Education Fund is providing funding for the taping by 5 CITY-TV. For a schedule of air times, see the City Web site at lincoln.ne.gov. The debate also will be available through video-on-demand through the Web site.